ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Opportunity Returns program offers a focused economic development
strategy for ten regions covering the whole state. Each region is served by a
team that assists businesses and community leaders pursue local development
strategies.

To
encourage entrepreneurship in rural Illinois,
the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network
(IEN) consolidated the state’s small business services into one network that
strengthens the state’s ability to help small businesses succeed. A vital part
of the IEN is the Entrepreneurship
Center Network, which provides funding for start-up or expanding small
businesses with high growth potential. Nineteen Entrepreneurship Centers have
opened statewide. During the past three and a half years, Illinois has invested more than $47 million
through the IEN and has helped small companies secure almost $429 million in
financing. The Network has counseled and trained more than 152,000 clients
across the state.

The
Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs’ MAPPING
(Management and Planning Programs Involving Nonmetropolitan Groups) program
is a process that helps communities create a long-range vision for the economic
development of their community and a plan of action to achieve it. In 2006,
MAPPING programs were conducted in:

New Boston(pop. 632). A small town on the Mississippi River,
New Boston is a bedroom community of the Quad Cities.

After experiencing little economic growth during the past
several decades, a group of New Boston residents completed the MAPPING program
in the summer of 2005 and has spent the past year focused on revitalizing their
riverfront. They are now establishing a 501(c)3 community organization: Vision
NewBoston.

San Jose(pop.
696). San Jose
wanted to increase the number of community events and activities to draw people
together after a local school closing threatened the village with population
decline. In 2005, the Village Board worked with MAPPING to hold several town
hall meetings designed to kick off several projects to develop local tourism
through community festivals and events and to provide a range of basic
amenities for residents.

West Peoria(pop.
4,762). West Peoria worked with MAPPING to address five areas: (1) senior
housing and family activities; (2) developing the business districts to
diversify the tax base and build a reputation as a business-friendly community;
(3) high quality schools and facilities; (4) crime reduction; and (5)
beautification and community pride. The City and Plan Commission hired an IIRA
Peace Corps Fellow to assist with its action plan.

DCEO’s Competitive Communities Initiative
empowers Illinois
residents to find community-based solutions to local issues. Following are two
successful strategies that rural communities implemented in the CCI program:

Hamilton’s
Merchants Association and the Community Development Coalition began working
with CCI in 2003. The Merchants Association has sponsored the annual Hamilton
Homecoming and Mystery Dinner Theater events, both of which rely on local
talent. The Hamilton Community Development Coalition (HCDC) continued to improve
the intersection of Routes 96 and 136. They maintained the local veterans
memorial, flag pole, and eagle statue. The HCDC also helps manage popular
summer-long disc golf tournaments.

Bethany, DaltonCity, and Findlay
make up the Okaw Valley CCI group. They organized and managed the 2nd annual
Touchstone Energy Hydrofest & Balloonfest at the Wilborn Creek Recreation
Area on LakeShelbyville. Building on 2005 successes
the group worked with Eagle Creek Resort to host a Balloonfest on the same
September weekend as the Hydrofest boat races. The Hydrofest has proven such a
success with racers and fans that the National Boat Racing Association is
making the 2007 event a regional championship weekend.